9alpha-fluoro-12beta-hydroxy derivatives of the pregnane series



3,000,911 Qua-BTUSRD-lZfi-HYDRQXY DERIVATIVES OF THE PREGNANE SES .losefFried and Josef E. Herz, New Brunswick, NJ, assignors to Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation,

New York, N.Y., a corporation oi Virginia N Drawing. Filed June 28, 1957, Ser. No. 668,612 12 Claims. (Cl. 260397.3)

This application is a continuation-in-part of our parent applications Serial No. 519,682 and Serial No. 545,- 795, filed July '1, 1955, and November 8, 1955, respectively.

This invention relates to the synthesis of valuable steroids and has for its objects the provision of: (I) an advantageous process of preparing steroids of the pregnane (including the allopregnane, preguene and pregnadiene) series having a 9u-fluoro substituent and a IZ-keto 01 IZfi-hydroxy substituent; and (II) certain steroids useful themselves as physiologically active steroids or in the preparation of physiologically active steroid derivatives.

The process of this invention essentially comprises: (a) interacting an 1l,B,l2;8-epoxy steroid of the pregnane (including the allopregnane, pregnene and pregnadiene) series with hydrogen fluoride to form the corresponding 9a-fiuoro-12B-hydroxy derivative; and (b) if desired, oxidizing the 12,8-hydroxy steroid, thus formed, to the corresponding l2-keto derivative. If a saturated 11/3, 125- epoxy-pregnane is employed as the starting material and a physiologically active A -pregnene is desired as the final product, the resultant 9a-fluoro-12fl-hydroxy steroid can be brominated to the corresponding 4B-bromo (or 2,4- dibromo) derivative and thence by dehydrobromination to the corresponding M-pregnene (or a mixture of the corresponding n -pregnadiene and A -pregnadiene) derivative. The resultant 9a-fluoro-IZB-hydroxy-pregnene (or pregnadiene) can then, if desired, be oxidized to the 12-keto derivative.

The compounds of this invention comprise: (A) the intermediate 9a-fluoro-1213-hydroxy (or 12-keto) steroids of the pregnane (including the allopregnane) series;

IQ Y 3,006,911 Patented Sept. 19, 1961 (B) the intermediate 9a-fluoro-4p-bromo-IZB-hydroxy steroids of the pregnane series; (C) the intermediate 9a-fiuoro-2,4-dibromo-12 3-hydroXy steroids of the pregnane (including the allopregnane) series; and (D) the physiologically active 9a-fluoro-12/9-hydroxy (or 12- keto)-A -steroids of the pregnene (including the A and A -pregnadiene) series.

For a clearer understanding of the foregoing general and following detailed description of the processes of this wherein the 1,2; 4,5; and 6,7-positions are saturated or double-bonded; Y is hydrogen, hydroxy or acyloxy, and Z is hydrogen or a-hydroxy.

If Compound B is a saturated steroid, then the following sequence of steps can be employed to convert it to a A -de1ivative:

CH Y

CHgY CHzY HO (':=0 (3:0

AO r 2 1 /i\/ i F o a F G and CHaY H0 (1:0 hi "HZ i 1i F! L wherein the 1,2; and 6,7-positions are double-bonded or B, wherein the steroid nucleus is saturated and of the saturated, and wherein Y and Z are as hereinbefore depregnane configuration, with approximately one mole of fined. bromine per mole of steroid, thereby forming Compound Compounds suitable as initial reactants (Compounds C containing a 4fl-brorno substituent, and dehydrobromi- A) in the process of this invention are disclosed in said nating as by treatment with an alkali metal halide (such applications, Serial No. 519,682 and Serial No. 545,795, as an alkali metal chloride, as exemplified by lithium and include preferably 11 3,12B-epoxypregnane-3,20 chloride) or with a hydrazine derivative (e.g., dinitrodione and 411,6,1Zfi-epoxy-M-pregnene-S,ZO-dione, alphenylhydrazine or semicarbazide) to form the correthough other starting materials may also be used, such spending hydrazone or semicarbazone, followed by deas 11/8,12,B-epoxypregnane-1 7oc-0l3,20-di0118, 115,1218- composition of the latter with a keto acid (e.g., pyruvic epoxypregnane-l7a,21-diol-3,20-dione and esters thereof acid) to yield a A -pregnene, Compound D, which corre- [particularly carboxylic acid esters such as hydrocarbon sponds to Compound B except for the unsaturation in the carboxylic acid esters having less than ten carbon atoms 4,5-position; or (2) reacting Compound B, wherein the in the acid moiety, as exemplified by the lower alkanoic steroid nucleus is saturated and may be either of the acid esters (e.g., the acetate, propionate, butyrate and pregnane or allopregnane configuration, with two moles enanthate), the monocyclic hydrocarbon aromatic carof bromine per mole of steroid, thereby forming Comboxylic acid esters (e.g., the benzoate), the monocyclic pound E containing a 2,4-dibromo substituent (20:,40; if hydrocarbon aralkanoic acid esters (e.g., the phenace- 4 Compound B is an allopregnane and 2134/8- if Compound tate), the lower alkenoic acid esters, the cycloalkaue car- B is a pregnane), and dehydrobrorninating by treatment boxylic acid esters, and the cyeloalkene carboxylic acid with an organic base such as pyridine or collidine, to preesters], 11 8,1ZB-epoxy-M-pregnene-17a-ol-3,20dione, pare a mixture (which is separable by chromatography) ll5,l2 8-epoxy-A -pregnene-17a,2l-diol-3,20-dione and esof a A -pr egnadiene, Compounds F, and a A -pregnaters thereof, 11/3,1Zfl-epoxy-A -pregnadiene-I'a,ZO-dione, 59 diene, Compounds F. These derivatives correspond to 11,51,125 epoxy A pregnadiene 17cc -ol 3,20 dione, Compounds B wherein the 4,5-position and one of the 115,125 epoxy A pregnadiene 170:,21 diol 3,20- positions 1,2 and 6,7 is double-bonded. dione and esters thereof, 11B,12;3-epoxy-A -pregna- Compounds D, F, and F can also be oxidized, if diene 3,20-dione, 11,8,12,8-epoxy-A -pregnadiene-17a-oldesired, to the corresponding l2-keto derivatives, Com- 3,20-dione, and 11B,12,8-epoxy-A -pregnadiene-17u,21- pounds G, by treatment with an oxidizing agent such as diol-3,20-dione and esters thereof. a hexavalent chromium compound (e.g., chromic acid).

These compounds are interacted with hydrogen fluoride The new 9a-fluoro-l2fl-hydroxy (or 12-keto)-A -pregto yield, inter alia, Compounds B, the corresponding 9w nene (including the pregnadiene) steroids of this invention fluoro-lZfi-hydroxy derivatives. The reaction is preferably (Compounds D, F, F, and G) and particularly those of conducted in an organic solvent for the steroid reactant 60 the general formula in the cold (e.g., at a temperature of 0 C. or below). The CHY reaction usually results in a mixture of the desired 90:- fluoro-lZB-hydroxy steroid derivative and the 12a-fluoro- R 9 llfi-hydroxy derivative, which can then be separated in the usual manner, as by fractional crystallization.

Compounds B can then be oxidized, if desired, as by treatment with a hexavalent chromium compound (e.g., chromic acid) to yield the corresponding 9a-fluoro-12- 2 keto derivative (Compounds H).

If the initial reactant, Compound A, is saturated in the L/ 1,2; 4,5; and 6,7 positions, the resulting Compound B will also be saturated and hence physiologically inactive. To wherein the and J-P are Saturated doubleconvert this product to a physiologically active steroid, a bonded; Y and Z are as hereinbefore defined; and indidouble-bond must be introduced into at least the 4,5- vidually R is hydrogen, R is fi-hydroxy or fl-acyloxy position. This may be done by: (1) reacting Compound (particularly the acyloxy radical of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid having less than ten carbon atoms; these ester derivatives being prepared by interaction of the free 12,8-hydroxy steroid with the desired acyl halide or acid anhydride in the usual manner) and together R and R represent keto (x0), are physiologically active steroids which possess progestational activity. Thus, the new steroids of this invention can be administered instead of, and in the same manner as, progesterone, in the treatment of habitual abortion. The dosage for such administration is, of course, dependent on the relative activity of the compound. The 9u-fiuoro-l2-keto steroids of the saturated pregnane series of this invention are further useful as intermediates in the preparation of the corresponding known A -12-keto derivatives, which in turn by monobromination and dehydrobromination, as described hereinbefore, can be converted to the active A -l2-keto pregnadiene derivatives.

For the purpose of illustrating the preferred process of this invention, reference is made to the following schematic analysis employing 11,8,l2B-epoxypregnane-3,20- dione and l15,12fi-epoxyprogesterone as starting materials:

r i O)\ C=O C=O /2 HF CrOa F -r I 4,5-doub1e-bonded III II 4,5-saturated lHF E 1? 0:0 i Bra The following examples are illustrative of the invention (all temperatures being in centigrade):

EXAMPLE 1 Qa-flzzoro-lZfi-hydroxyprogesterone (III) To a solution of 100 mg. of 115,12/3-epoxyprogesterone (I) in 19 ml. of chloroform and 1 ml. of absolute alcohol is added at 0, with the exclusion of moisture, hydrogen fluoride until the solution assumes a permanent raspberry-red color. After stirring for 1.5 hours at 0, the mixture is neutralized with a suspension of with water, dried over sodium sulfate and the solvent removed in vacuo. The residue crystallizes readily from acetone-hexane and yields pure 12a-fluoro-11/8-hydroxyprogesterone.

From the acetone-hexane mother liquor is isolated a second substance, identified as 9a-fluoro-12B-hydroxyprogesterone, which after recrystallization from acetonehexane has the following properties: double M.P. at about 194-195 and 220-222; M1 +85 (c. 1.33 in chloroform);

2.99m, 5.87,, 6.05m and 17a,2l-diol 3,20-dione 21-acetate for 115,12fi-epoxy- To a solution of 20 mg. of 9oc-fi1101'0-12fl-hYdI'OXY- progesterone in 2 ml. of reagent grade acetone is added sodium bicarbonate. The chloroform layer is washed with stirring 0.42 mL. of a solution containing 200 mg.

Analysis.-Ca1cd. for C H O F (346.42): C, 72.81; H, 7.85. Found: C, 72.77; H, 7.81.

In a similar manner, all other 9a-fluoro-l2fi-hydroxy steroids can be oxidized to their corresponding 9a-fluoro- 12-keto derivatives by following the procedure of Example 2.

EXAMPLE 3 To a solution of 250 mg. of 11,8,12B-epoxypregnane- 3,20-dione (-11) in 24 ml. of chloroform and 1.25 ml. of ethanol is added at with stirring hydrogen fluoride until two layers become definitely discernible. The mixture is stirred for a total of one hour and 25 minutes at 0 and is then neutralized by the addition of an aqueous suspension of sodium bicarbonate. The chloroform layer is washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness in vacuo. The residue on crystallization from acetone-hexane furnishes about 94 mg. of 9u-fiuoropregnate-12fl-ol-3,20-dione having the following properties: M.P. about 187-189"; [a];, 4 (c. 0.96 in chloroform);

A913? 2931.: (OH), 5.86 (3-keto), 5.92 (20-keto) M33; No specific absorption Analysis.Calcd. for C H O F (350.42): C, 71.98; H, 8.90; F, 5.43. Found: C, 72.01;; H, 8.98; F, 5.50.

EXAMPLE 4 Qa-fluoro-I2/3-hydr0xypregnane-3,20-dione (V) To a mixture of 1 ml. of methanol and 1.5 ml. of liquid hydrogen fluoride is added at -76, 75 mg. of 115,125- epoxypregnane-3,20 dione (H). The resulting solution is allowed to warm up slowly to 0 and'at that point another 1 ml. of hydrogen fluoride is added. The mixture is then kept at room temperature for 5 hours during which time it assumes a deep red color. Chloroform is added, the resulting solution is immersed in an ice-bath and the hydrogen fluoride neutralized by the addition of a suspension of sodium bicarbonate in water. Extraction of the chloroform solution with water gives after drying over sodium sulfate and evaporation of the solvent in vacuo about 84 mg. of an amorphous residue. The latter is chromatographed on 2 g. of sulfuric acid washed alumina and the column eluted with 200 ml. of benzenehexane 1:1, 300 ml. of benzene-hexane 3:1, and 250 ml. of benzene. The last two eluants furnish 9a-fluoro- 12 8-hydroxypregnane-3,20-dione, identical to the product obtained in Example 3.

Similarly, by following the procedure of either Example 3 or 4, 11,8,l2B-epoxypregnane-17a-ol3,20dione and 11B,12 3-epoxypregnane-17a,21-diol-3;20-dione yield 9ot-fluoropregnane-l2fl,17a-diol-3,20-dione and 9oa-fluoro- 12B,17a,21-triol-3,20-dione, respectively.

added a drop of hydrogen bromide in acetic acid and then dropwise a solution of 25 mg. of bromine in 1 ml. of glacial acetic acid. After addition 'of 30 mg. of solid sodium acetate, the solvent is removed in vacuo and the residue taken up in chloroform. The resulting chloroform solution is washed with dilute sodium bicarbonate and water and after drying over sodium sulfate evaporated to dryness to yield essentially pure 9a-fluoro-4B-bromo-12fl-hydroxypregnane-3,ZO-dione.

Similarly, 9a fluoropregnane-12fl,17a-diol-3,20-dione and 9u-fiuoropregnane-12B,17u,21-triol-3,20 dione can be converted to 9a-fiIIOIO-4B-bI'OmO-l2f3,17a-di0l-3,20- dione and 9a-fluoro-4fl-bromopregnane-l25,17a,21-triol- 3,20-dione, respectively.

EXAMPLE 6 9a-fluoro-12 3-hydroxyprogesterone (III) A solution of 73 mg. of 9a-fluoro-4B-12 8-hydroxypregnane-3,20-dione and 135 mg. of anhydrous lithium chloride in 5 ml. of redistilled dimethylformamide is heated at under nitrogen for two and one-half hours. The solution is then diluted with chloroform and extracted with water, dilute sodium bicarbonate solution and again with water. After drying over sodium sulfate the solvent is evaporated in vacuo leaving a crystalline residue of essentially pure 9a-fiuoro-l2fi-hydroxyprogesterone, identical with the product formed in Example 1.

Similarly, 9m fluoro-4B-bromopregnane-12 3,17a-diol- 3,20-dione and 9a-fluoro-4fi-bromopregnane-12p,170:,21- triol-3,20dione can be converted to 9u-fluoro-A -pregnene-12B,17u-diol-3,20-dione and 9a-fluoro-A -pregnene- 120170 2l-triol-3,20-dione, respectively, by the procedure of Example 6.

EXAMPLE 7 9oz-fluoropregnane-3,12,20-trione VI I To a solution of 18 mg. of 9a-fluoropregnane-12B-ol- 3,20-dione in 2 ml. of acetone is added with stirring 0.3 ml. of a solution prepared by mixing a solution of 200 mg. of chromium trioxide and 320 mg. of sulfuric acid in 1 ml. of water with 9 ml. of acetone. After 15 minutes a few drops of alcohol are added and the mixture is partitioned between chloroform and water. The chloroform solution is washed with water, dilute sodium bicarbonate and water, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness in vacuo. The residue upon crystallization from acetone furnishes 9a-fluoropregnane-3J2, 20-trione of the following properties: M.P. about 224- 225"; [a] (c. 0.54 in chloroform);

Nuiol EXAMPLE 8 Qa-fluoropregnane-12fl-ol-3,20-dione 12-t0sylate A solution of 169 mg. of 9u-fiuoropregnane-l28-ol- 3,20-dione and 347 mg. of pure p-toluenesulfonyl chloride in 4.5 ml. of anhydrous pyridine is allowed to stand at 45 for 72 hours. At theend of this period ice is added and the mixture extracted with chloroform. The chloroform solution is washed with dilute sulfuric acid, water, dilute sodium bicarbonate and again with water, dried over sodium sulfate and the solvent removed in vacuo. The crystalline residue after recrystallization from 95% alcohol has the following properties: M.P. about 161- '162" (dec.); [a] |84 (c. 1.18 in chloroform);

max.

Analysis.-Calcd. for C H O SF (504.63): C, 66.63; H, 7.39. Found: C, 66.87; H, 7.25.

Similarly, if another acylating agent such as acetic anhydride is substituted for the p-toluenesulfonyl chloride in the procedure of Example 8, the corresponding l2-ester is formed (e.g., 9a-fluoropregnane-1218-01-3,ZO-dione 12- acetate). Furthermore, the process of Example 8 is of general applicability and may be used to esterify all of the free 12,3-hydroxy steroids of this invention to their corresponding 12-ester derivatives. Thus, 90t-flUOIO-12I3- hydroxyprogesterone upon treatment with acetic anhydride according to the process of Example 8 yields 90:- fluoro-lZB-hydroxyprogesterone 12-acetate.

The 9a-fluoro-l2-keto saturated pregnane steroids of this invention can be converted to the corresponding M -steroid derivatives as illustrated by the following example.

EXAMPLE 9 A -pregnane-3,12,2 O-trione -A suspension of mg. of 9a-fluo1'opregnane-3,12,20- trione in 3 ml. of 0.261 N KOH in methanol is shaken at room temperature for 5 minutes, during which time all of the steroid has dissolved. Water is added and the mixture is neutralized with acetic acid. Extraction with chloroform followed by a water wash of the chloroform extract, drying over sodium sulfate and evaporation of the solvent in vacuo gives a crystalline residue, which on recrystallization from acetone-hexane has the following properties: M.P. about 183-l84;

reported [P. Hegner and T. Reichstein, Helv. chim, Acta 26, 721 (1943)] MP. l84-l86.

These A -pregnene steroids can in turn be converted to the corresponding A -pregnadiene derivatives by following the successive procedures of Examples 5 and 6, but substituting a M -steroid (e.g., A -pregnene- 3,12,20-trione) for the 9a-fluoropregnane-125-01-330- dione reactant in Example 5.

The invention may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A compound selected from the group consisting of steroids of the general formulae wherein individually R is hydrogen, R is selected from the group consisting of fi-hydroxy and fi-acyloxy, and together R and R' is keto, Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy and acyloxy, and Z is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a-hydroxy.

2. 9a-fiuoropregnane-l218-ol-3,20-dione.

3. 9a-fluoropregnane-3,12,20-trione.

s Q 4. Qa-fluoro-lZB-hydroxyprogesterone. 5. Qa-flLlOl'O-IZ-KCtOPI'OgEStfiIOlIB. 6. A steroid of the general formula CHnY 6 1 HO o=o i Z wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy and acyloxy, and Z is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a-hydroxy. 2O 7. 9a-fluoro-4fl-bromopregnane-12p-ol-3,20-dione.

8. A process for preparing a compound selected from the group consisting of steroids of the general formulae;

CHzY

OH C=O OH IC=O 5 (|JH2Y 0H 0:0 6 I z 40 i wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of. hy-

drogen, hydroxy and acyloxy, and Z is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and oc-hYdIOXY, which comprises interacting a compound selected from the group consisting of steroids of the general formulae;

wherein Y and Z are as above defined, with hydrogen fluoride and recovering the 9a-fluoro-12fl-hydroxy steroid formed.

11 9. A steroid of the general formula V CHrY R R (i= 'i -z E wherein individually R is hydrogen, R is selected from the group consisting of ,S-hydroxy and B-acyloxy, and together R and R is keto, Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy and acyloxy, and Z is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a-hydroxy.

10. A process for preparing a steroid of the general formula C HaY HO I in mi] wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of by- 12 drogen, hydroxy and acyloxy, and Z is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a-hydroxy, which comprises interacting a steroid of the general formula CHQY t t5 QU References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Reichstein Dec. 4, 1956 Sarett Apr. 16, 1957 UNITED STATES lATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,000,911 September 19, 1961 Josef Fried et 611.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, lines 25 to 34, to the left of formula H, the following should be inserted:

Cr-O

column 8, line 16, for "9afluoro4[3l25 hydroxy" read 90vfluoro-QB-bromol2B-hydroxyline 61, for "169 mg. of 9q-fluoropregnane-l28-0l-" read 160 mg. of 9qfluoropregnane Signed and sealed this 6th day of March 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents 

1. A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF STEROIDS OF THE GENERAL FORMULAE 